Hand grenade with percussion detonation

ABSTRACT

A hand grenade with a projectile body spring urged away from a drop cap having pivotally mounted half shells encompassing the projectile body and a safety bolt normally holding the shells in their encompassing position, is provided with a firing pin containing slide spring urged into engagement with the percussion sensitive primer and held against its spring bias by the safety bolt. After the firing pin strikes the primer, the slide member continues further under its spring bias into engagement with cam jaws for releasing the secure connection between the cap and projectile body.

United States Patent 1 1 3,554,127

[72] Inventor Franz Becker [56] References Cited Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS 5; Q J' g g g 2,216,587 10/1940 Cardini 102/64 1 2,365,246 12/1944 Cardini 61 al. 102/64 [45] Paemed 1971 3 103 171 9/1963 J 102/64 73 Assignee DynamitNobei Aktiengesellschaft 3194161 7,1965 102/64 Troisdorf, Germany 9 1 ec ere a [32] Priority Jan. 16, 1968 Primary Examiner- Benjamin A. Borchelt [3 3] Germany Assistant Examiner-Charles T. Jordan [31] 055119 Attorney-Craig,Antonelli,Stewart&Hill

urged away from a drop cap having pivotally mounted half shells encompassing the projectile body and a safety bolt nor- [54] GRENADE WITH PERCUSSION mally holding the shells in their encompassing position, is pro- N vided with a firing pin containing slide spring urged into enrawmg gagement with the percussion sensitive primer and held [52] US. Cl 102/64' against its spring bias by the safety bolt. After the firing pin [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 27/00, strikes the primer, the slide member continues further under F42b 27/ 10 its spring bias into engagement with cam jaws for releasing the [50] Field of Search 102/64 secure connection between the cap and projectile body.

e H s J ,L 1* r 1 1 l6 I0 21 ABSTRACT: A hand grenade with a projectile body spring PATENIEUJANIZIBH V v 3.554127 INVENTOR FRANZ BECKER ATTORNEYS HAND GRENADE WITH PERCUSSION DETONATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hand grenades have been provided with drop caps that will separate from the powder containing projectile body after the assembly is thrown, which drop cap is held in its assembled position by means of a safety element against the force of a precompressed spring disposed between the projectile body and the drop cap. It is also known to provide the drop cap with pivotally mounted half shells that in the normal position encompass the projectile body.

This type of .known hand grenade-has been provided with a friction primer in the cap and under the effect of spring tension. After the hand grenade is thrown, the safety element being removed, the half shells flip openunder the effect of the associated spreader springs. At the same .time, the pretension spring in the cap pulls the friction wire-through the friction primer and thus initiates ignition. At the same time, separation of the projectile body and the cap also takes place. Accordingly, the ignition is transmitted to a body which is moving away from it, which is wrong in principle and also has the effect in practice that even when the ignition jet of the friction primer cap is unusually strong and even if an especially sensitive primer is employed in the projectile body, a substantial percentage of failures cannot be prevented.

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a percussion sensitive primer disposed in the rear end of the projectile body to be ignited by a firing pin axially aligned with the primer and mounted in a slide member that is held against a spring bias toward the primer by means of a safety element, which firing pin and slide member are a part of the drop cap. Also, a locking member is provided to securely hold the projectile body and the drop cap together until being released by movement of the slide member only after the firing pin has first struck the percussion sensitive primer to a predetermined depth sufficient for ignition thereof.

Preferably, the locking device is constructed of two opposed jaws on the drop cap and spring urged into locking engagement with the projectile body. The slide jaws and slide member have cam wedge cooperating surfaces that will spread the jaws apart when the slide member moves toward the primer under the bias of its spring beyond the point of the firing pin striking the primer, which spreading apart will release the projectile body from the drop cap. Also, the slide member will engage the half shells to pivot them away. from the projectile body during its movement toward the primer.

THE DRAWING Further objects, features and advantages of the present in vention will become more clear from the following detailed description of the drawing, wherein the single figure is an axial cross-sectional view through a hand grenade embodying the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The projectile body 1 is provided with a suitable filling 2,.for

' example, an explosive powder, a liquid, or the like. The drop cap 3 is provided with the half shells 4, which are pivotally mounted about the pins 5 at the centers of gravity, which half shells 4 surround or encompass the projectile body 1.

The cap 3 is also provided with an axially slidably mounted slide member 6, which is spring biased by means of the spring 7 downwardly with respect to the drawing, which spring 7 is disposed between the upper wall of the cap 3 and the slide member 6. A firing pin 8 is slidably mounted in the slide member8 under the influence of its spring 9. The forward end of the slide member is provided with cani projections 10 that axially rest upon the transversely removable safety bolt or element 11, which holds the spring 7 precompressed. In the normal safety position of the safety bolt 11 as shown in the draw ing, the bolt not only blocks the slide member 6 in its illustrated position, but also engages the outer walls of the half shells 4 to maintain the half shells in encompassing engagement with the projectile body 1.

At its upper or rearward end, the projectile body 1 is closed off by means of a stopper 12, which contains therein the per-1 cussion sensitive primer cap 13. Depending from the stopper 12, there is provided a sleeve portion 14, which is provided with a bursting charge 15 therein. In order to transmit the ignition flash from the primer cap 13 to the bursting charge 15. it is preferable to provide a delay charge (not shown) and optionally also a booster charge (not shown), which delay charge and booster charge would be disposed in the axially extending ignition channel 22. It is also contemplated that the detonator constructioncould bequite different, except for the presence of the percussion sensitive primer and flring pin. In particular, for live ammunition it would be desirable to fill the projectile body with an explosive charge.

Each of the half shells 4 is provided with a bellcrank-type of cam projection 16 that extends axially beneath or .forward of the slide member 6, in the normal position of the hand. grenade, with a very small spacing therebetween.

The flangelike lower end of the cap 3 is provided with transversely extending grooves slidably receiving therein slide jaws 17 that are mounted to be biased inwardly. under the force of suitable springs (not shown), which springs would preferably engage also the half shells 4 to urge them outwardly. The integral flattened inner end portion 18 of each slide jaw 17 engages in a similarly formed annular groove 19 at the upper or rearward end of the stopper or sealing piece 12 of the projectile body, to secUrely connect the projectile body with the cap' 3 in the illustratedposition. Wedge surfaces 20 are provided on the inner and rearwardly extending surfaces of the flat tened portions 18 of the slide jaw '17 for cooperative ultimate engagement with the counter wedge surfaces 21 that are formed on the forward end of the slide member 6.

When it is desired to use the hand grenade, the safety bolt l 1 isfirst pulled transversely out of the unit and discarded. As soon as the safety bolt 11 is thus-removed, the slide member 6 will move axially downwardly, with respect to the drawing, under the influence of its spring 7 until it engages the cam projections 16 of the half shells 4. If the person who is'to throw the grenade has his hand tightly wrapped around the half shells 4, the half shells 4 will not pivot and thus the cam pro- 1 jections 16 will prevent any further movement of the slide member'6 toward the primer 13.

Upon throwing the grenade, the half shells 4 will flip open with pivotal movement about their pivot axes 5 under the combined effect of the cam portions '10 of the slide member 6 engaging the cam projections 16 underthe influence of the spring 7 and any air friction contributing to-the spreading ac tion of the half shells 4. Thus, the slide member 6 will he -free to continue its axial movement toward theprojectile body ,1

and the primer 13 under the influence of its spring 7. During this further movement of the slide member 6, the firing pin 8 will first strike and penetrate the primer cap .13 for ignition thereof, which primerignition will successively transmit ignition to the delay charge and ultimately'to' the bursting charge 15.

Only after the firing pin has penetrated sufficiently a predetermined distance into the primer cap 13, the slide member will move sufficiently toward the projectile body! so that the wedge surfaces 21 of the slide member6 will engage the correspondingly shaped cam wedge surfaces'20 of the slide jaws l7 and thus transversely spread the slide jaws 17 away from each other against their spring bias. As the slide jaws 17 move transverselyaway from each other, their flattened portions 18 will be withdrawn from the annular groove 19 of the stopper or locking piece 12, which will ultimately release the secure connection between the projectile body .1 and the drop cap 3. Once this release has become effective, the residual force of the compression spring 7, which is still quite considerable, will force the projectile body 1 and the cap 3 away from each other, whereby the intended separation of these two parts is completed.

Since the entire above-described process takes place within a relatively short period of time from the instant of throwing, it is insured that the drop cap 3 together with the parts mounted thereon traverse only a short flight path, which is particularly short because of the breaking effect or high wind resistance of the spread apart half shells 4 during the flight of the cap. However, the mechanical stresses exerted on the drop cap 3 and the parts mounted thereon are only relatively minor, so that the cap and parts mounted thereon do not suffer any damage and can accordingly be employed again in many cases in connection with new projectile bodies. While only a single preferred embodiment has been described in detail for purposes of illustrating the present invention, further modifications, embodiments and variations are contemplated.

I claim:

1. A hand grenade with a projectile body, a drop cap having two pivotally mounted half shells encompassing and spring urged away from the projectile body, and a safety element preventing their separation until use, wherein the improvement comprises: a percussion sensitive primer in said projectile body; a slide member mounted in said cap for movement toward and away from said primer; spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer; said safety element normally preventing movement of said slide member towards said primer against the bias of said spring means; said slide member having a firing pin mounted to strike said primer when said slide member moves toward said primer; locking means securely connecting said cap and said projectile body together and being actuated by movement of said slide member toward said primer to release the connection between said cap and said projectile body only after said firing pin has first struck said primer.

2. The grenade according to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes two jaws slidably mounted in said cap and spring biased into locking engagement with said projectile body, said jaws and said slide member having cooperating cam means to force said jaws apart against their spring bias out of engagement with said projectile body in response to move ment of said slide member towards said primer.

3. The grenade according to claim 2, wherein said spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer also provides the spring bias forcing said cap and said projectile body apart, said spring means consisting of only one coil spring.

4. The grenade according to claim 2, wherein said slide member and said half shells have cam means for pivoting said half shells away from each other in response to movement of said slide member toward said primer.

5. The grenade according to claim 4, wherein said spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer also provides the spring bias forcing said cap and said projectile body apart, said spring means consisting of only one coil spring.

6. The grenade according to claim ll, wherein said spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer also provides the spring bias forcing said cap and said projectile body apart, said spring means consisting of only one coil spring.

7. The grenade according to claim 11, wherein said slide member and said half shells have cam means for pivoting said half shells away from each other in response to movement of said slide member toward said primer.

8. The grenade according to claim 7, wherein said half shell,

cam means axially engage said slide member after removal of? said safety element to prevent further movement of said slide member toward said primer in a position of said slide member firing pin axially spaced from said primer. 

1. A hand grenade with a projectile body, a drop cap having two pivotally mounted half shells encompassing and spring urged away from the projectile body, and a safety element preventing their separation until use, wherein the improvement comprises: a percussion sensitive primer in said projectile body; a slide member mounted in said cap for movement toward and away from said primer; spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer; said safety element normally preventing movement of said slide member towards said primer against the bias of said spring means; said slide member having a firing pin mounted to strike said primer when said slide member moves toward said primer; locking means securely connecting said cap and said projectile body together and being actuated by movement of said slide member toward said primer to release the connection between said cap and said projectile body only after said firing pin has first struck said primer.
 2. The grenade according to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes two jaws slidably mounted in said cap and spring biased into locking engagement with said projectile body, said jaws and said slide member having cooperating cam means to force said jaws apart against their spring bias out of engagement with said projectile body in response to movement of said slide member towards said primer.
 3. The grenade according to claim 2, wherein said spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer also provides the spring bias forcing said cap and said projectile body apart, said spring means consisting of only one coil spring.
 4. The grenade according to claim 2, wherein said slide member and said half shells have cam means for pivoting Said half shells away from each other in response to movement of said slide member toward said primer.
 5. The grenade according to claim 4, wherein said spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer also provides the spring bias forcing said cap and said projectile body apart, said spring means consisting of only one coil spring.
 6. The grenade according to claim 1, wherein said spring means biasing said slide member toward said primer also provides the spring bias forcing said cap and said projectile body apart, said spring means consisting of only one coil spring.
 7. The grenade according to claim 1, wherein said slide member and said half shells have cam means for pivoting said half shells away from each other in response to movement of said slide member toward said primer.
 8. The grenade according to claim 7, wherein said half shell cam means axially engage said slide member after removal of said safety element to prevent further movement of said slide member toward said primer in a position of said slide member firing pin axially spaced from said primer. 